Seattle Community

Generally helpful
6.8
out of 10
6 votes

Search Engine Optimization Help

There must be at over 1000 online business that say they can help you with your SEO copy.
Written Aug 12, 2008, read 191 times since then.

 

Not one company can do this overnight period! Google warns people of these Internet cowboys. In order to get SEO help you need to hire someone that is familiar with the process or keep coming back here and read somne of the information I give. But remember I am learning everyday. You see this business is changing daily therefore NO one I stress NO one knows everything there is to know about SEO. If they tell you they do then guess what they are full of BS.

I personally have been doing this for over 10 years and I still don’t know everything. Some may even call me a content specialist. How you get help for SEO is still a work in progress. As a matter of fact I read an article where Google received emails from companies that were “phishing” for new business. In simple terms they are a scam they say something like “Dear ABC I was on your website and noticed you are not getting top listing on Google Blah blah blah”. Sound familiar? I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when they got that email! Below are some things to keep in mind.

There is no Guarantee you will get #1 Google ranking
Companies that guarantee you top rating on Google because of a “special relationship” with them are full of it. As much as I would love to bash Goggle for many things they are ethical. They have no priority for their submission. As a matter of fact the only way you can actually submit a site is through their http://www.google.com/addurl/?continue=/addurl So move on partner and do this legally.

Be weary of companies that won’t explain how they can get top rankings
Have Joe or Sheila explain how they are going to do this. More often than not they will misrepresent or give you misleading information. Give you all these services that you can get for free if you took the time to search. Therefore have them spell it out, even in writing if they are willing to give you the guarantee.

Network and talk to other SEO companies

Always ask for references that is a good start. I actually had a company contact me and promise me the world as far as Google ranking. The problem was they could not explain why they were not #1 in Google. I don’t recall what the woman said but by the third sentence out of her mouth I was playing tug of war with my dog Lucy. You can see how interested I was.

Protect yourself Legally

    * Have everything in writing if you are going to choose ABC Company to do your SEO work.

    * Make sure you talk to clients they have had in the past.

    * Make sure that Google has not removed their previous clients.

    * Check their WHOIS info.

    * Watch out for doorway pages.


    * If you think you have been deceived by ABC Company contact the FTC including the BBB. If you want to file a complaint go to http://www.ftc.gov/ or you can call them at 1877.FTC.HELP

In order to get reliable SEO help you must do your homework. If it’s important for you and your company then take the time and research all your options. Keep in mind anyone offering this service won’t be inexpensive. Some prices are very competitive; They work within the client’s budgets while providing valuable resources and ROI.

Learn more about the author, Gabriella Sannino.

Comment on this article

  • Eli Poblitz
    Posted by Eli Poblitz, Pacifica, California | Aug 12, 2008

    Hi Gabriella,

    I look forward to your insight from any information you share. I'm doing my best to transition from bad HTML, to proper web standards with CSS.

    I recently received an email from an ABC - SEO company, and from the research I've been doing I was weary to even think about replying. I advise all Biznik community members to be weary as well.

    Thanks for sharing your insight. Maybe I can push business your way one day!

  • Gabriella Sannino
    Posted by Gabriella Sannino, San Francisco, California | Aug 12, 2008

    Hey I love Pacifica... Awesome beaches. Thanks Eli.

  • Barry Hurd
    Posted by Barry Hurd, Seattle, Washington | Aug 12, 2008

    Gabriella- I agree with you on most points, but as far as Google being an ethical creature I'm not so sure. Google does a lot of things that have business agendas.

    For instance Google Knol (http://knol.google.com) launched and caused a pretty major uproar in the SEO realm and even the YouTube purchase sparked conversation.

    When a directory service (aka Google) becomes an information provider (Knol / YouTube) then an immediate bias is created. In a similar line of thought, Google has also been found weighing adword advertisers higher in organic results as well over the years.

    One of the reasons I see such strange industry practices ( a lot of unethical business ) is simply because the "top of the food chain" has some pretty unusual business practices itself.

  • Gabriella Sannino
    Posted by Gabriella Sannino, San Francisco, California | Aug 12, 2008

    Lol Barry this was one of my "nice" Google articles. Since I am still a newbie on this forum I didn't want to divulge my true self...lol My latest mantra I am grateful that I am not as judgmental as all those censorious, self-righteous people around me. :) thanks for your post